Dan Whateley

New York

Senior Media Reporter at Business Insider

media reporter @businessinsider | member of @insiderunion

Articles

TikTok Shop's Era of Free Views Is Fading Fast for Sellers

4 days ago | businessinsider.com | Nathan McAlone |Dan Whateley |Henry Blodget

The honeymoon period for TikTok Shop is over. For years, TikTok sent organic traffic to videos from US merchants to help jump-start interest in its e-commerce business. But now, product sellers generally have to pay for TikTok ads in order to get significant views on their videos, three company partners and two TikTok staffers said. The drift away from free views began last year, but has really picked up in 2025, these people said.
Entlassungen, Sparmaßnahmen: Wie Tiktok wieder effizienter werden will

1 week ago | businessinsider.de | Dan Whateley
Inside TikTok's New Efficiency Era: Layoffs, Cost-Saving Measures

1 week ago | businessinsider.com | Ashley Rodriguez |Dan Whateley |Henry Blodget

Belt-tightening is underway at TikTok. After spending big over the last two years to get its e-commerce business off the ground, TikTok is taking new steps to squeeze out a return. Since February, TikTok Shop has pushed out staffers based on performance, added stricter return-to-office rules, and had two rounds of layoffs, all while tacking on new measures to keep costs at bay, seven staffers told Business Insider.
TikTok layoff watch: Read the cryptic memo telling staff to work from home

2 weeks ago | businessinsider.com | Ashley Rodriguez |Dan Whateley |Henry Blodget

TikTok Shop employees in the US are bracing for layoffs after the company told staffers to work from home Wednesday ahead of "organizational and personnel changes," per a memo viewed by Business Insider. The moves are expected to impact employees who work in US operations and global key accounts, a team that works with large brands.
HBO Max's social team knows its rebrand is absurd. It's leaning in.

3 weeks ago | businessinsider.com | Ashley Rodriguez |Dan Whateley |Henry Blodget

The internet is making fun of Max for changing its name to HBO Max (for the second time). But no one is mocking the re-rebrand with as much gusto as Max itself. The company is poking fun at the switch by posting conclave references on TikTok, Harry Potter memes on Instagram, and teasing X on the social platform. The self-deprecation is not limited to Max's main accounts. An Instagram page for the HBO show, "Curb Your Enthusiasm," also chimed in, for example.
HBO Max is mocking itself with memes as Warner Bros. Discovery rolls out yet another rebrand

3 weeks ago | flipboard.com | Dan Whateley

18 hours agoMax Is Changing Its Name to (Get This!) HBO MaxToday is not April 1 and this is not The Onion: The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streamer formerly known as HBO Max, and currently known as just Max, …4 hours agoSesame Workshop receives Elevate Prize Catalyst Award as it charts a new path for 'Sesame Street'MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Elmo, Abby Cadabby and the rest of the “Sesame Street” gang will get some high-profile help as they travel down a new road.
TikTok staffers say its US e-commerce business is slumping amid high tariffs

3 weeks ago | businessinsider.com | Nathan McAlone |Dan Whateley |Henry Blodget

Trump's tariffs are taking a toll on TikTok. The company's e-commerce business, TikTok Shop, is off to a slow start in the US this year, four staffers who work on its shopping product told Business Insider. The employees described declines in daily US sales from foreign sellers that contributed to an overall sales drop-off beginning in late March.
Inside an Instagram meme empire's strategy to get in your DMs

1 month ago | businessinsider.com | Ashley Rodriguez |Dan Whateley |Sydney Bradley |Henry Blodget

Sam Graviet is the creative director of brand partnerships at Doing Things. Josh Sears. 2025-05-07T13:48:49Z Facebook Email X LinkedIn Copy link An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? . Instagram is in its sharing era.
Amazon-backed creator startup Spotter lays off staffers. Read the memo from its CEO.

1 month ago | businessinsider.com | Ashley Rodriguez |Amanda Perelli |Sydney Bradley |Dan Whateley

Aaron DeBevoise is the CEO of Spotter. Spotter 2025-05-02T21:44:18Z Facebook Email X LinkedIn Copy link An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? . Creator upstart Spotter let go of staffers this week, the company confirmed to BI.
TikTok is taking power away from a top US shopping exec

1 month ago | businessinsider.com | Ashley Rodriguez |Dan Whateley |Henry Blodget

Nicolas Le Bourgeois presented at a TikTok Shop event. Dan Whateley. 2025-04-23T21:21:58Z Facebook Email X LinkedIn Copy link Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? . TikTok is restructuring US operations for its e-commerce platform, Shop.